a la mode

The Ahameds delighted guests with a tangy grapefruit and greens salad, followed by tender steak with roasted carrots, turnips and potatoes; a dessert of hot apple tart à la mode drizzled with caramel sauce; and plenty of crisp red and white wine.

Nearby dessert options also abound, with A la Mode Pies, Truffles and a Salt & Straw in the vicinity.

But she dislikes being categorized because of her sex or skin color, saying that “it’s completely ridiculous” to be considered “a la mode” for being a Black female chef.

It’s just the dish to celebrate Mel Brooks’s legacy: Mud pie, à la mode.

Her hearty pecan pie recipe comes complete with a no-churn ice cream pairing, because no slice deserves to go without an a la mode moment.